For Sports And Food, Where Else But The Dogout

October 04, 1992|By Jodie Jacobs.

Hungry family members wait while sports fans stay glued to the set until the game is over. Hot dog aficionados swear the franks taste better munched to the crack of a bat. There is a restaurant that understands.

The Dogout fast-food eatery in Bannockburn serves its dogs-char, jumbo, chili and special BBQ-to the sights and sounds of sports. Customers have box seats via three satellite TVs. ``We can get a sporting event anywhere in the world,`` said co-owner Eric Ocrant.

And if a customer refuses to leave home, The Dogout delivers. Which is the way Ocrant said former Bears defensive tackle ``Jimbo`` Covert likes it.

``He prefers eating at home,`` said Ocrant, who over the summer catered a Bears` 4th of July picnic at the Coverts. ``They`re nice guys,`` Ocrant said of the Bears. ``They`re great customers. They eat a lot.``

But don`t think ``Jimbo`s Jumbo Dog`` on the menu is named for Covert. According to Ocrant, the ex-Bear wolfs down the house specialty: the ``North Shore`s BBQ Dog.``

The menu Jimbo is an uncle of Ocrant`s partner and boyhood buddy, Michael Whitehead. Ocrant, 22, of Deerfield and Whitehead, 28, of Evanston opened the restaurant last November.

The hot dog focus was a natural choice for Ocrant, whose main restaurant experience was with a fast-food franchise. The theme came naturally also.

``Dogs and sports go together like bagel and cream cheese,`` Ocrant said.

And he likes all of the Chicago teams. Dogout is decorated to prove it, such as a poster and jersey signed by Blackhawk forward Jeremy Roenick that hangs next to the order counter. And a highly coveted photo of Michael Jordon playing collegiate ball. That one is hidden away behind a door labeled